Fans all over the world say that the NBA nowadays has become ”soft” and that it isn’t what it used to be, especially on defense. But yet we see great hustle on the floor, from the players who own enough pride in their game that pushes them to leave their hearts out on the floor, night in and night out.
These are the types of the players that will dive for the ball, step in and take a charge, try to block a dunk or go for a steal. In order to honor these players, the NBA has inducted the annual Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Although the winner of this Award will not be known until the end of the season, we can trim down a few names that should be considered to win this trophy.
The players that are on my list of favorites to win the NBA Defensive Player Of The Year Award are showing every game what they are made of and that the league is not lacking of hardcore defenders.
Anthony Davis – New Orleans Pelicans
The Brow is having the season of his career so far and he has the highlights and the stats to prove that. He is averaging a double-double this season with 28.1 PPG (2nd in the league) and 11.1 RPG (5th in the league) but we have to add to this his defensive stats. His 2.6 BPG put him in the 1st place in the NBA and that means that the opposing players are going to think twice now when they see a clear path to the basket when they are facing NOLA. He also had 10 BLOCKS (yes, 10!) in a game on his 25th birthday against the Jazz.
Also, we cannot overlook his 1.5 SPG (15th in the league). He has the same amount of steals per game as Donovan Mitchell, Jrue Holiday and Jeff Teague, guys with one of the fastest hands in the NBA. The Brow had some great games during this season but two of them are just memorable: vs PHX 53 PTS, 18 REB, 5 BLK in 39 MINS; vs LAL 42 PTS (83.3% FG), 15 REB, 4 STL in 33 MINS. The odds at the beginning of the season made him a 5th favorite to win the award with +1000.
Rudy Gobert – Utah Jazz
The Frenchman is having a great season with the Jazz. His defense is one of the most important parts of their great success. When asked recently about his DPOY chances, Rudy Gobert made it clear that he considers it a one-man race. The odds were with him on that one, so at the beginning of the season, he was the third favorite with +325 to win the award.
“The Stifle Tower” is averaging 13.5 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 2.3 BPG in 32.4 mpg but the stats don’t really show his true value. He is 7 ft 1 tall with a wingspan of 7 ft 9 (!!) long and that forces other players to change their shots when they see him because he will block it to the stands if they don’t. You can just see how the teams change their game plans when they are facing Utah.
Goberts impact on the success of his team is undeniable, and when he is playing, the Jazz defensive rating is above 7 points per 100 possessions better. Without him, the Jazz were 18-26 at the begin of the 2018. Since his return, the Jazz finished off the season with a 30-8 record.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEBj80BF4-A
Robert Covington – Philadelphia 76ers
Rob is currently playing his 4th season for the Sixers and this could be the season that people start to really respect his game. He is a 3-and-D player, a self-explanatory role that every team seeks to fill. And there lays his biggest value. Who wouldn’t want an SF on his roster that is 6 ft 9 high, shoots 41.3% from the field and has a great defensive IQ?
Covington is averaging this season: 12.6 PTS, 5.4 REB, 2 AST, 1.7 STL, 1 BLK in 31.6 MIN. When Sixers signed him in 2014 it was obvious that he is a shooter, but as the time was passing he became a lockdown defender that can guard smaller and bigger players. He is good in reading the game and that forces his opponents to change their plays often.
Embiid, Saric, and Covington were orchestrating the 76ers defense last season and now, with healthy Simmons, they look even better and their record 52-30 just confirms that.
For me, NBA’s Defensive Player Of The Year should be Rudy Gobert. For a couple of years in a row now, he is a major problem for every team Jazz is facing. Yes, he didn’t hit 60 games this season due to two nagging knee injuries, but the Jazz are just so good with him on the court and many NBA analyst, player and the fans agree that he should be voted the Defensive Player of the Year.
Honorable mentions: Paul George (OKC), Joel Embiid (PHI), Jrue Holiday (NOP), Victor Oladipo (IND).
